Mass communications

BBC takes the pay-TV plunge

Article Abstract:

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation Ltd.), in partnership with Flextech TV, will launch pay-TV channels on Nov 1 1997. Analysts perceive other terrestrial broadcasters, Carlton and Granada, as failing to achieve success in their pay-TV ventures, so they will be watching the BBC venture, UKTV, with interest. Analysts believe that one of the reasons for failure is that pay-TV programming is completely different, due to small budgets and fickle audiences. UKTV believes its combination of BBC branding and Flextech commercial expertise will prove successful.